nbc's ron mot is there for us in boston. we begin with nbc's michelle franzen, who's live at laguardia airport. let's get to the travel problems with you, michelle. are they improving? >> reporter: they are improving, alex. this is probably one of the best days since the storm blew in here and buried areas of snow. we're at laguardia. people filing through here most of the day. a handful of cancellations here at the airport. overall, just fewer than 600 airports around the country. that is a far cry from the last few days. air travel as well as road travel frozen in time. the monster storm blizzard literally stopped vehicles in their tracks. >> snow all over the place. >> reporter: along the long island expressway and ramps, frustration and a trail of scattered vehicles. some remain abandoned in drifts. >> how do i get out of this mess? >> reporter: dozens of drivers had to be rescued after spending part or all night in bone-chilling temperatures. in connecticut and rhode island, phones are finally open this morning after cr